2019 UK target Jaden McDaniels spoke with the media after his second Nike EYBL Peach Jam game. McDaniel’s Seattle Rotary team moved to 2-0 after an exciting come-from-behind victory over Tyrese Maxey’s Houston Hoops.

McDaniels finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds on Wednesday night and stats weren’t instantly made available after his Thursday morning performance. Kentucky has been in contact with McDaniels but there has been no formal offer.

Reporters: On which schools have made you a priority.

McDaniels: Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Washington, San Diego State, but mostly everybody. I talk to everybody on a daily basis, so I’m cool with all the coaches and stuff.

Reporters: On how much his recruitment has changed since April.

McDaniels: It’s just like, sometimes it’s overwhelming but it’s calming down just being out here and all the coaches seeing me. It’s just text after text, but it’s calming down now so I’m good.

Reporters: On what he learned from trying out for Team USA.

McDaniels: You gotta play hard all the time. Coach Self was telling us it isn’t all about scoring and stuff, you gotta do the little things like play defense, help your teammate and be a good team, just stuff like that.

Reporters: On his rise in the rankings.

McDaniels: It’s been fun just seeing me go higher and higher, just trying to get to the No. 1 spot. That’s my goal, so I’m just gonna keep working until I get there.

Reporters: On how often he looks at the rankings.

McDaniels: My trainer, he was sending me every once in a while telling me I need to get to the No. 1 spot. I’d tell him ‘Yup, let’s go,” and we’d get to the gym.

Reporters: On any potential matchups he’s had fun playing against.

McDaniels: We played the Rens with Jalen (Lecque) and Kofi (Cockburn) and that game was cool. It’s just fun playing against all the good players here.

Reporters: On UK’s contact.

McDaniels: I’ve talked to one of the assistants but they’re mostly talking to my dad right now, cuz he does most of my recruiting, so all the coaches talk to him.

Reporters: On what UK has been saying to his dad.

McDaniels: He just tells me that UK called and they’re recruiting me, and stuff like that. He didn’t tell me what they be saying.

Reporters: On what he knows about UK.

McDaniels: It’s big time. A lot of pros came out, like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins and all them. It’s just exciting having a big time interest like that.

Reporters: On his dream school growing up.

McDaniels: I did, but I don’t have one no more.

Reporters: On who the dream school was.

McDaniels: It was Kentucky, because John Wall was my favorite player. I wanted to go where he went but I don’t have one anymore.

Reporters: On his position at the next level.

McDaniels: I’ll probably be playing the three, mostly.

Reporters: On if people expect him to stay on the west coast.

McDaniels: Yeah, a lot of people have been. Everybody be telling me to go to U-Dub and stay in the purple and gold but I don’t know what I’m gonna do yet.

11 responses to “Jaden McDaniels says Kentucky was his dream school, no longer has one”

Sounds to me like he is just living in the moment and working hard on his game to become the Number one overall recruit and not feeding on distractions. I really like the way his dad is dealing with the recruiting aspect and just letting him focus on the game. I just hope his dad dealing with the recruiting aspect isn’t for other reasons.